In a special presentation from KALW News, it’s a story from the new podcast 70 Million, an open-source podcast looking at jail and criminal justice reform in communities across the country.

When Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, tries to deport a person without legal status, often it puts them in so-called “detention centers.” ICE say this incarceration is necessary, in order to get undocumented folks to show up for their court dates.

Ever since detention expanded in the 90s, immigrants and advocates have complained of the poor conditions inside. Public pressure from activists helped lead to the closure of the West County Detention Center in Contra Costa, effective this fall, along with others in the state.

But these closures don’t mean immigrants are set free — ICE still wants to make sure they show up in court. Some are moved to other locations, and some may have a chance at what’s becoming a popular alternative to detention: GPS ankle monitors.

Reporter Ryan Katz has the story.

70 Million is a production of Lantigua Williams and Co. Juleyka Lantigua-Williams is the creator and executive producer. The podcast is edited by Jen Chien, who is also KALW’s managing editor, and is engineered by Luis Gil.

70 Million is made possible by a grant from the Safety and Justice Challenge at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

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In a special presentation from KALW News, it’s a story about radical reforms in foster care, from the new podcast 70 Million.

By age 17, over half of young people in foster care have already been convicted of a crime or spent a night in jail. After they age out, a quarter will go to jail or get in trouble with the law within the first two years. California is determined to keep foster youth out of jail.